If possible,
references shouldn't be provided prior to an interview, but during
an interview or immediately following, for two key reasons:

You want an
opportunity to learn the full criteria of the position (what your
responsibilities will entail) so that you can determine whether or
not this is a position you want to continue to pursue. There's no
good reason to have your references contacted needlessly.

Having an
opportunity to contact and communicate with your references –
hopefully, before the interviewer calls them – enables you to give
them a heads up and share important information regarding the
position and any key criteria learned during the interview. A
prepared reference is a better reference.

For example, if
the interview situation reveals that "problem solving" is a critical
skill necessary to the position you're targeting, a forewarned
reference will know to reference your "problem solving" abilities,
including offering specific examples.

Reference Letters versus
Reference Lists

Written references
(or reference letters) provide a permanent record of your
contributions and achievements from a specific period of time,
written from another person's perspective (previous employer,
colleague, client, supervisor, mentor, etc.). A written reference
often provides the strongest recommendation, as it's usually created
while events are still fresh in the writer's memory. See more on
Letters of Recommendation.

However, an
interviewer is also going to want an opportunity to speak with your
references directly. This type of contact gives the interviewer an
opportunity to ask specific questions relevant to the position and
company being targeted. It also gives the interviewer a chance to
validate the reliability of the reference's comments.

This process will
require you to provide your interviewer with a list of references,
or a "reference sheet." (Example
- PDF file.)

It’s always best
to have both: written references (with current contact information,
if possible) and a list of references that your interview may
contact in person, at his or her convenience.

The time to
prepare a reference list is well before the first resume is ever
submitted. So if you haven't gotten your references in order, now is
the time to do so. You should be able to provide your interviewer
with at least three references (preferably five).

Reference List - Putting It
Together

The reference list
is a separate document that matches your cover letter and resume in
format, layout, letterhead style and stationery, and is best
provided at the time of interview or shortly thereafter.

Provide plenty of
white space between each reference listed so that your interviewer
has room to make notes and comments.

Your references
can be personal or professional in nature, or a mixture of both, but
keep in mind that your interviewer is going to want talk to
individuals who are familiar with your work style, work ethics,
skills and abilities - as these will relate to the working
environment you're targeting.

The basic
information to provide for each reference you list:

The
Reference’s Full Name

Their Current
Title and Employer (where he or she is presently employed)

Their
Relationship To You (such as: mentor, colleague, supervisor,
coworker, employer, client) and the location where this
association took place ("at ABC Company")

Their Phone
Number (your reference should indicate which number he or she
prefers you provide – only provide phone numbers and e-mail
addresses with the explicit permission of your reference)

Don’t forget to
thank your references with a "Thank you" card or letter. You may be
using these same individuals as references in the future, and your
appreciation of their efforts will go a long way in ensuring
positive future recommendations. (Taking a reference out to lunch is
not out of order here. Show your gratitude.)

If you're
concerned about what previous employers are saying about you, you
may want to consider hiring a professional reference checking firm -
the same type potential employers hire when checking the background
and histories of potential candidates.

Good luck in your job search!
Sue Campbell,
1st-Writer.com - over 18 years
experience helping clients achieve their career and business goals. Feel free to
e-mail me
with any questions you may have. I'll be glad to help!